Fairbanks Daily News-Miner from Fairbanks, Alaska • Page 8

A-6- Daily News Miner, Fairbanks, Alaska, Friday, June 18,1974 Customized local government Service areas get mixed reviews By SCOTT ANDERSON Staff Writer "A service area could offer fire protection, but there's no way they could put out a firealmylimise." "We lake care of ourselves" and have no need tor a service districts i i i a "self government at its finest Ask persons ill an area where arc under way to establish a service i i and you will get mixed comments such as these. Service districts are viewed by many as a means of providing a local government service such as i protection without the cost of big government. Even those who oppose service districts in their residential area concede a in a areas service districts are desirable. Presently, there is a move by some developers and residents for a service district encompassing Chena Acres, i i West, Collegiate Park, Uirch Estates, some property along (he Chena Pump Road to the Chena Small Tracts Road and along the Chena River back to University Avenue. One of the promoters of the service district, Bob Bettisworth of Teal Development thinks the service district concept is the "finest i anybody ever dreamed up." If the provisions of service districts are used to advantage, Bettisworth says, "people could do everything for themselves and reduce the volume, expense and burden of government.

"Here's the opportunity to bring it right home and do it yourself" and have all (he service a government provides, Hettisworth added. i expressed concern, however, a service districts are forming in subdivisions with good population densities and leaving people between subdivisions "in a no man's land." Bettisworth believes the borough must start looking at geographical boundaries for such districts and convince people wtio live between service district areas of the advantages. Bettisworth says if a service area for fire protection and road maintenance were established in the proposed area, fire insurance rales could be reduced by 5(1 to 111) per cent. Not everyone agrees, however. Jack Mease, Mile i Dolly Varden Lane, says his insurance would not drop until there is a fire hydrant close to his house.

Mease has no objections to residents in areas such as Birch Estates, University West and Collegiate Park forming a service district. In fact, he says it may even be desirable in those areas. Bui where he lives, in the area across Pike's a i with the population density as it is now, (he only practical fire protection is a self-reliant system. Mease, for example, has 15 chemical extinguishers, two 20-pound carbon dioxide extinguishers and a Almost any service can be had if the piper is paid Water and sewer, fire protection, road construction and maintenance, a and a i services available in any city. But a unique Alaskan concept-- the area allows residents of unincorporated areas to take advantage of as many services as are desired at a cost (hey want to pay.

Fairbanks North Star Borough Staff Director Ron Garzini believes service areas result in a higher level of service than would normally be provided by a governmental body. According to Borough Attorney Jim Nordale, the service area concept also gives borough government officials a handle on services which often form under special taxation districts in other stales. And the process of establishing a service district also assures residents of an area (hat a service will no( be provided unless a majority of those living there want it. To form a service district, 40 per cent of the property owners must sign a petition which musl state the service desired. If enough signatures are obtained the proposal (lien goes to the borough assembly and property owners ot the proposed area for a public hearing.

If (he assembly finds the request valid, a special election is set. During the election, only those people who are registered voters actually living i i the proposed area may vote. A simple majority is needed to approve formation of a service district While a service district may serve a large number of purposes, normally one is formed only for a single purpose- (ireprotection, for example. If unification ever occurs within the borough, incorporated cities such as Fairbanks and North Pole would probably become service areas, Nordale said. Within the borough there is also another twisl on service districts which is not found elsewhere in the state.

When voters here approve or reject a service district, they are also voting on a a i mill rate which cannot be increased without another vote. When the. people within a service district determine how much the service will cost, a mill rate is set lo meet that cost. Theoretically, this assures residents of a service area taxes will not be raised without their approval. And to date, none of the 15 service districts formed since 1970 arc in financial trouble, Garzini said.

In fad, he added, a are ending each year with a budget surplus which is carried over lo the next year. But borough officials admit the assembly at some point could i itself faced with abandonment of a service district or levying a tax high enough to support a service against the wish of the people. However, borough officials say loo they can only see such action as a last resort in the most dire circumstances. When such action does become necessary, Garzini said, "it is as much the a of the borough administration and the assembly" as it is the faull of the service district. while such situations have occurred elsewhere in the stale, Garzini said, "il hasn't come close to happening here." Among the problems Garzini cites with service areas are the separate paperwork required for each district, differing mill rates for each area, and HULETT for State House the number of commissioners with whom the borough administralion must work.

All these factors create accounting problems, he said. In addition, once an area is established, (he commissioners find they must deal with nearly every department in the borough to obtain money and aid. It would be preferable, Garzini said, lo have one area where service district commissioners could go for all information and help. Each service area has five commissioners who advise (he assembly on such things as budgets. And in a sense, Garzini said, each service area has become a subgovernment of the borough.

If enough areas are formed for a service such as road construction and maintenance, he said, the borough would consider providing the service on an areawide basis. hose reel that is constantly charged with a "I'm looking for protection when I am there. By the lime neighbor saw the smoke and investigated to see if it was a fire, the house would he gone anyway." Winola I'ossenti, another resident of Dolly Varden Lane, also sees no need for a service district. "We have good wells and water, we keep our roads clear" and there is fire protection for those who put in their own systems, she says. In addition, she says, service districts "usually (end lo lead towards an- nexallon." firm Borcherl, who lives on the Chena Small Tracts Road, sees no advantages in a service area.

"I've lived Ihere 15 a i i a dogcatchers and fire departments. I'd just as soon leave it that way." Borchert also believes the next logical step after formation of a service district would be annexation to the city. "We can't fight progress, but I'd just as soon put il off as long as 1 can." Many residents of other areas, however, would like lo see a service district. Bob Hilliard. who lives in Birch Estates, favors a service district and signed a petition over a year ago to establish one.

He believes (he process involved in forming a district is loo long and involved and that there "must be an easier way than canvassing voters to gel Ihe service district issue on the ballot." One of problems, i i a believes, is that too large an area is involved. Hilliard believes smaller districls shoutd be formed, then combine if that isdesired. Assemblyman Don Weldon views the increased demand for service districts as a change in philosophy within Ihe Fairbanks population, as more people come into Fairbanks accuslomed to having maintained roads and fire and police protection within a three-minute phone call. "I don't think we will ever go back to the way it was prior to 1971-72 when the atlilude was 'everybody help Ihcm- Weldon said. Weldon believes service districts will be replaced i i 10 years by the borough i the services.

The good aspects of service districts. Assemblyman Bill Stringer says, are a it keeps government at Ihe local level, serves lo keep neighborhoods working together on problems, tends lo i i i a generally reduces a a i for unwanted services and increases public a i i a i i a processes. The disadvantage lo service areas, he said, are a there is still a i rule which can force a minority into a service i i and the possibility lhat things may nol receive the attention tliey should. For example, Ihere mighl not he the feeling of responsibility that there might he if a sewer system was under a city or borough department. Service districts provide an alternative to big government, Stringer said, and borough residenls should make every cfforl lo make (he concept work.

WALLACE AND ROGERS I FARTHEST WORTH SHRINE CLUB Presents The All New BI-CENTENNIAL Wallace and Rogers BIG TOP CIRCUS June 25th thru 29th Some of this year's biq features are: 3ft The famous Metropolitan Opera House in New City was demolished in alter B3 years of existence. Mini Monthly Storage PHONE. 456 4711 or write. Bon 60389. Fairbanks TIKA the Elephant! Star of screen and stage and most recently seen on the New Sonny Cher Show, Spprl.il sofvices flie fiital ,11 iliu June 22 F.i.

June 25. 7:30 wlh Ihc Uirixl la trie (ttstor. Revt Mi. DeVnrc is siwisorcd by Ihe Dcjwtt live Church nf GixJ Tuts, cod DeVo'O ns trie Irn tl Ljirv R.cn nf Evanqdism onci Harm i Mmni Snia lei ml llH! minisliy in 19-15 He I vis rl ih.Ti CvifefC(tcos. Vnnlh prcstiplnur, CenK.H P.i.kway Ohio' IWS Vlvn not cn)3tcd in special mwiinfli.

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Every father will be presented with a life-time keepsake. Every non-resident father will have a personal letter typed and mailed by our secretaries to his family back home. The letter will be ready for your signature at the close of the service. A The service feature an ail-men's choir. A Special music will be presented by the male quartet.

For The Evening Service at 7:30 p.m., our Young People will present their. tV "Bicentennial Spectacular" 1 HEAR THE: ft "'Youth Singers of America" ft "Youth Speakers of America" and a "Youth Preacher of America" ft DON'T MISS IT! ft HAMILTON ACRES BAPTIST CHURCH CANADIAN WHIS A CANADA'S FINEST WHISKIES AGED. AND BOTTLED nSup ON OF THE CANADIAN 8Y A A 1 THIS WHISKY IS SIX YEARS OLD AND BOTTLED IN CANADA BY A A SONS. ONT A CANADA 868 PROOF 138 Farewell Avenue OnlyVQisVQ The First Canadian.